From serving royalty at the Savoy 30 years ago to catering for East Finchley’s finest today, Maurizio Businaro has run Amici Delicatessen in the High Road for 23 years.
He trained at the Grand Hotel in Rimini after going to catering college at the age of 14. It was a period that has stayed with him to this day.
“There was a big Jewish community who used to visit the Grand Hotel because we served Kosher food,” he said. “I still get people coming in who recognise me from there, decades later!”
He moved to London in 1976 and worked at the Savoy Hotel where he served Princess Margaret and other members of the Royal Family. He opened Amici in 1995.
“When I came to East Finchley it was a tiny village,” he said. “It’s changed so much since then, and it’s far nicer.
“I love seeing people come in and leave happy. We get families coming in and it’s wonderful.”
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